Method and apparatus for promoting plant growth in greenhouses



Oct. 6, 1931. M, E|BEN 1,826,607

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING PLANTGR OWTH IN GREENHOUSES Filed June 8, 1928 FTGF'5 %ZZM a. d442 62% 727W, MJ 9 QM Patented Ochfi, 1931 JALIEIBEN, or CLEVELAND, oHro ME'H IQ A D 'AIIAR S OB R MOT NG PLANT GROWTH in eniinnrroosns f n plication'filed' June s, 1928. Serial No. 233,752. I

y This invention arelates tothetreatinent of plants in greenhouses and has for an object,

the-p'rovisionof aisyst'em 'o'f ventilation, by

: meansof whichsthe rate and 'character of Ufgrowth. of plants maybe greatly improved.

1 The invention its present form is espexicially adapted for usevin largegreenhouses comprising long bays which are arranged sideby side,-andea'ch of which is'approxi- 1 iin'ately: 300 or 400 ft. or more in-length. y

" The prQblem 'Of' expediting growth of plants in greenhouses-of this sizeis a diflicult one.,iin view of the large areasjand thelunequal content ofmoisture in various'parts of the structure.pForzexample, in one bay, I there may becertainpplants of 3 or ifeetin height, while in the adjacentbay' there may be Qpotted-v plants only 8 or 10,,inches in- I --,-hei-ght.,- For a given humidity, the plants in 3 one partof thegreenhouse may thrive,.whi1e a fin another part',. plant growth may be re- -tarded and evende'stroyed; Itis' desirable therefore,"to enable the humidity conditions .ito bevaried' and to. be completely controlled I 5 notwithstanding the size and thenumber of T plantsunder cultivation. I v 1 f4 Variations -in. humidity as affecting plant I 3 growth are "exceptionally. apparent in the growing iof tomatoes Light and moisture: conditions 3 in certain localities particularly in thenorthern part of'the United States I ai-have preventedthe *sa'tisfactorygrowing of .fplantson a production basis'lln h Spring --month sof the year; The moisture laden con- ,ditiOnof the atmosphere coupled with the in- -ability to maintain-. uniform heat conditions Q in a large greenhouse-have madethe growing of tomatoes-a hazardous undertaking dur-' Qingthe winter. -months. In large greenhouses, the heating is usually. accomplished bysteam coils which naturally cause an una even-heat in different regions. o This is readil'yapparent from the fact that plants adj a- 1 cent tothe radiators havea growth which is j'increased to a marked degree over those in the adjacent row. {Under such conditions, it has been found that on "rainy days, the moisture adheres to the plants to such great ex- .tent' that pollination (which must be done I Q byhand) carinotbe'accomplished for several days. A delay of four days at the proper stem and limits the height of the vines' to about 6 feet.

The present invention is concernedfwith a method of expediting plant growthby'the use of a moving current of air. The problems presented in theoperation of large commercial greenhouses are quite different from those usually present in small residential greenhouses. In the small typeof house I where the predominating type of growth embodies small plants and where the heating conditions are more or less ideal, the circulation of air in the greenhouse 1s a simple matter. In fact, a small electric fan which directs the air against the plants is considered suflicieni'ly adequate for the purpose. :In large commercial greenhouses however, such] procedure is inadequate. The current of air set in motion-by a small electric fan I might benefitthe plants directly in front of it, but it would not affect plants eight or ten feet away. Whenit is consideredfthat green- ;houses are three *orfour hundred. feet in lengthand areb'uilt with a large number of so adjoining bays which are open intoseach other, it'is obvious that the use of small fans placedat' separated points would be, impractical; f I

It hasalso been found that the intr'oduction ofair on a large scale through mushroom .outlets at spaced intervals along thefloor-in form of outlet, the plants have'a tendencyto dry out, as'the warm air is blown directly so against the base of the plants. The air'also dries out he ground. The direction of air movementand the position of the outlets flOIIlgi'hG ductswith reference tothe plants therefore areimpor- 1 I founclithia tant faotors in plant growth. -I'haije found.

by moving the air in a direction extending jareobtained andihat suoh changes are most noticeable \i n' the 'growth'(if-tomatoes. I I have Siamese-sated in ithis wayrdo not vary in: degree offlgrowthin proportion to the proximity of rhej plants to: theoutlets butthat growthlis nnifornr throughout the lengthiiofi'ithessgreenhouse. In "addition, 1

' hai e iionfid'that'the *air fmoving" above "the -tops of the plans indue-es asg-fiowsbetween ariaznkyzrlesinec htimeua I H j I I mly methodrpermits nplantsvto: be: ewafiereds at frequent intervals -izthns enabling: the roots-to receive /adequate :Li'moistnre:notwithstanding ithe 1i)e1=oent1a ge;oi

7 f system plan's eoiild notbe-Watenedmniclays v v :iiimhengthe' atmospheret was zhea lly' laden; wlth fi mm stnreias' the mate ofj'ewaporationwould cmeztamiljcl towavprohihitivedegree o-szlnsthe 'clr wings ilfligil isia transverse sees mtionlthrough aigreenhous 'ha aniaplpara- L ;itnss thereihsembodyingsmy'kinven on 2 athe inleteoriduit to .thewbl-oW-er.

The igreenhonse, hieh I. have; shown}; has sbasys -10: iaitnangedkside bys side andofi gequal :len*gth. The-spacebetween itherbays is open 7 ss0" thatiyaooess iorimovement; of -f air is -pros:yiclecl hetweenthe bays' and within the: entire ofnoniiat:eony'elrienfispaeed intervals, and ter- 'zeminafing inqolitletsizati points above the tops z'iofiiftheliivlantsl 'iAorhlower indicated; in; :gen-

part of the greenhouse. A damper-163mm- V -::mm1s:.ths:- kind. 'oriproportion of air admitted thje v oln'me ofair utilized; 'In'ayi'beg'satisinterior airumay be enl-dereot theout-letsso :as' to 031136.51 movement I as oflair directions lengthwise of the: rows 'andfabove the tops of the plants under culti- "*vation; jI

'n some instancesyitimay bei'desir- I ablej to 'iltlli'ze a swivehontlet 13 at tlietop ot eaeh riserg so as togdirectithe :flow'ofaair and valuable improvements in plant growth V .Afuiather important advant'age first in one direction, and then in the oppo site clireotion, anoltoalternate suoh move- :ment until therlesirecl eonditions" are ob tain'ed. This system is utilized 'wher'eecona only is desired.' sAno th er system embodies a the nse'of stationary'o'utlets which lead in g positg {directions from: the-izrisers thus en abling air to bemoi?e& -substantially towardv I .,..each vendIof thegreenhouse; v This system is I employed hereeconomyinthe size ofthe blower'is n'otfth'e' controlling factor] In both I I methods however, the.moying,..en1ment.of air greenhouse. If ,the' upper Window stare i uniforinly controlled. In I aocordanee with I V s V ,w U and preferahlyzrinI-the upper regions-of the, and aroilr' cl the bottom oftheplants and en es h ml q :P eis'ssdgthe-sir re'turnsfitoith'e:blowenzand re eircul ated. TByIutilizingl heating e'oi l'swin I thiS methOd Of; operation};vaporvlanlen air I w th s mesp the maybe easily set in -niotioniakiid: planfisimay vib quick 7 I I ssstiysn the Path Oi -the, airiblalstr be ejeeted int-othe g-reefihouse-foreontrolling insects and disease? 1 T-{I he introduction of smoke; for example, heretoforefihas necessi- =hIIng at 'spaced 2 intervals th'rorfghoi1t lthe greenhouse. ith. the present invention; a

'duoesithe number of smudge-f pots reqi ired I y TI wentionis the fact that desirablefigases may T .tat ed the use "0i smndgejpots' whieh ha ie been 1y? drieol', =althongh' theyi ar nst cli- 1 Ll L about 80 In -addition;"plants}1nay be -satisfactorily dlist'ed by ejecting ithedusting' 'inatei ial' into fthe blowen and a1loWi-ngit' to 'lo'e bloWn' into the I atmosphereabove the -p1ants, s; 1 If As applied to the' growth f tom-atoes, I

have i f' ouncl" th-at' this inventi on'; enables the pollination toperiform ed 'at gany de- 'si-recl the rainy: season but "1' even causes pollinationto oee'nr; iautom'att "-'i"a'ctori'ly" performed when; the plants are spa oed "-it'rom eight ten in ch esapart upon I of w1(),'feet; 1 :Moreover, the average; number i oi tomatoes has been sincreasedlfrom three or been; 5 grown. Furthermore, theizfirst l fruit 1 may-hepieked at a rnu'oh earliertime. Siueh wet; hence under yss stsm, the 'c'rop'yield I e 1 a: I v a ;I a r'rea'iches'a'maximumldegreefln a dditionfit 1 T ia'l-r'admlttedio" j has b'een founcl thatfthe elnsters' ofifriiitiare f the vinesanclgthat the Vines reaeh a height; v

: fruits naturallycommands}; a: higher; price. 7

.cAi 'fu rthen :importantr advantage isth at togmatoes be grown in months heretofore 'r itegarcledi,as'inipraetical folxthisipnrpose ends of the greenhouse; I v

EZLA method of promoting'plant growth in a greenhouse, comprising causing .a current of airto move'above the soil and uniformly in the same general direction longi-v tudinally of the greenhouse and throughout 1 the-width and heightithereof, to the end of theho'use and with sufficient pressure to dry all of the plants therein, and then returning at least some of the air along one side of the greenhouse, and recirculating it, whereby a continuous uniform vmovement of air 1s 1 caused to fiow'abovethe tops and throughout the length of the plants under cultivation therein i v 1 f F 3. A methodof promoting plant growth in a greenhouse having closely set rows ofvines the vinesand thereby to absorbthe excessof moisture intime to prevent the formation of .7 leaf mould, and recirculating at least'part therein, coinprisingcausmg a moving current of air to flow lengthwise of the rows, and with suliicient pressure to effect adequate circulation throughout the entire length of :of the air,

j 4; A method of promoting-plant growth f as in a greenhouse, comprising causing a moving currentof air to flow lengthwise of the greenhouse from different outlets, which are,

so positioned that-each tends to assist the others inmoving the air'in a continuous current lengthwise of the house, and; with sufficient pressure to assure circulation throughterior part of the greenhouse through said openings, said inlet conduit being adapted to receive insecticides that are introduced with air flowing into the blower, an exhaust conduit extending from the blower transversely of the bays of the greenhouse and outlets leading from saidexhaust conduit, said outlets being directed to cause a moving current of air to travel in the same general direction lengthwise of the greenhouse.

" In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

MICHAEL A. EIBEN.

out the entire length: of thickly setvines within the greenhouse, and to remove the ex- 'cess, of moisture thereon, and thereby pre- 4 vent the formation of leaf mould.

. :5, A method of promoting plant growth ina greenhouse comprising'mixing outside and insideair and then causing the mixed air 'toflow through different outlets within the greenhouse and so arranging the'outlets that H i the airflowing from each tends to assist the others in causing'a column'of air to flow lengthwise of the greenhouse, and with sufficient force to effect circulation between and around plants disposed within the greenhouse and between vertically extending and closely set vines that are disposed within the greenhouse.

'6. In combination, a greenhouse comprising a plurality of bays arranged side by side,

a blower, an air inlet conduit for the blower,

said conduit having a plurality of inlets, one opening into the interior of the greenhouse and the other opening to the exterior of the greenhouse, a damper adjacent the inlet conduit for selectively directing the entrance of air into the blower from; the exterior and in- 

